NICE Announces New Chief Executive: What It Means for the NHS

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) appointed Professor Jonathan Benger CBE as its new chief executive, replacing Dr Samantha Roberts. Professor Benger, currently serving as NICE's deputy CEO and chief medical officer, will assume the top role on 19 December 2025.

His background provides deep experience for the leadership change; he previously served as interim director of the Centre for Guidelines at NICE. Professor Benger held senior positions across the NHS before joining NICE in January 2023, such as interim chief clinical information officer at NHS England and chief medical officer of NHS Digital. He also maintains a clinical practice as a consultant in emergency medicine at the Bristol Royal Infirmary and co-founded the Great Western Air Ambulance charity.

Professor Benger steps into the role during a transformational moment for NICE.

His predecessor, Dr Samantha Roberts, who led the organisation since 2021, oversaw significant shifts, including guidance during pandemic recovery. NICE's mandate, which is central to NHS-wide adoption of innovations, will expand under forthcoming reforms tied to the government’s 10-Year Health Plan. From April 2026, NICE will evaluate high-impact health technologies, diagnostics, and digital tools alongside traditional medicine appraisals. This expansion aims to accelerate patient access to innovation and reduce regional variations in adoption.

NICE's chair, Sharmila Nebhrajani, welcomed the appointment, praising Professor Benger's “wisdom, integrity and drive,” and stating his suitability to lead NICE through its next phase of development, which involves expanded responsibilities and tighter performance expectations.

Professor Benger expressed he was “honoured to be appointed” at this pivotal time. He emphasised the importance of NICE continuing to help practitioners and commissioners deliver the best and most cost-effective care quickly, while responding to evolving healthcare demands and the rapid development of new medical technologies.

His leadership will face scrutiny as NICE prepares to implement changes to its methodology, including how it sets cost-effectiveness thresholds, a topic that generated controversy in 2025 regarding government proposals for greater ministerial influence over these appraisal thresholds.

Professor Jonathan Benger's appointment as NICE CEO signals a continued prioritisation of integrating clinical expertise with policy development for clinicians, innovators, and commissioners. His background in emergency medicine and digital health suggests a dual focus on rigorous clinical standards and system-wide digital transformation. As NICE embraces a new era of expanded duties and higher public expectations, Professor Benger's leadership will be vital. He will need to balance the pace of innovation with clinical safety and preserve NICE's reputation for independence and evidence-based guidance.